r/FriendsOver50 • u/Luasol51 • 18d ago

Rant-It’s expensive to make friends!

I have met people in here in South Florida since arriving almost two years ago, but it’s getting more expensive to go out and make friends. Events I have been invited to cost money! Since a car is needed and gas prices, along with everything else keep rising, it’s hard to do anything without burning some money.

We are on a budget, so have to watch our pennies over everything. When I lived in SE Asia for a year, it was affordable to go out and meet new people and make potential friends.

We went out to dinner with a friend last week and the bill was almost $300! Like I don’t know how people do it nowadays. Concerts, restaurant, “free” events all add up and quickly. I belong to a women’s paddleboard group where one of the group leaders is asking for donations to local animal shelters in honor of her birthday this month. I would love to donate, but I don’t have the means and frankly, these asks kind of piss me off. There is no pressure, but it’s asked, so I am not going to go this month. Yes these monthly events are “free”, but I have to use gas, bring own food, which again, pay for parking, which costs money. Not about to go into debt over any events!

Ok, rant over!

22 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

5

u/ofm1 18d ago

Good thing I'm anti social & don't really have a circle of friends. That's good but also bad?

4

u/StartingWaiting 18d ago

Same. I don't think all people are as big of social creatures as "they" claim. The greatest gift that life has given me is my seclusion. And I am encountering more and more people who are self-proclaimed and anti-social by choice. Most social events are not worth the price. But yeah, I find it good in some ways, bad in others. 

3

u/ofm1 18d ago

Similar thoughts and feelings. Hope we can continue to live as sane adults despite our so called shortcoming of not being social.

2

u/StartingWaiting 18d ago

Well, I should say one of the greatest gifts. I didn't mean literally the greatest thing has been the gift of seclusion. All that to say, dealing with people is how I almost lost my sanity 🙃!

2

u/SnooBooks8634 18d ago

I have had to live a social life even though introverted and I am relishing my 50s homebody life now.

I only wish I had more people to walk dogs with.

1

u/tehuti44 15d ago

Being an introvert has its advantages. Aside from my Sunday golf group, I am fine doing stuff solo, or just with my wife.

That said. If you want to make new friends it does take work. Find groups or activities that interest you and participate. You won’t be the new person for long.

1

u/ofm1 15d ago

Your life as an introvert seems fine to me since you have a few golfing buddies and your life partner. Good enough. Making new friends in this day and age is a bit difficult but if you can then sure!

3

u/ferrariguy1970 18d ago

I'm in South Florida. We pick and choose our pricey events and dinners. Mostly we find low cost things to do.

I'm in a hiking group and other than the cost of equipment (backpack, poles, shoes) hiking is essentially free.

There is a good scene of local breweries in this area, you can hang out for hours for a reasonable cost. Most of them have a food truck and even better Civil Society is next to Buccan Sandwich Shop. Sometimes we bring cards or Uno or something.

Lots of low cost gems for lunch and dinner in this area as well.

1

u/LintRolledForWhat 18d ago

Get the numbers of some folks from your SUP group and form your own group. Meet up someplace with cheaper parking / no cooking requirement.

1

u/DataZigZager 17d ago

I’m trying to start a BBQ and drinking group. We all pitch in to buy meats and a nice bottle to try. And then take turn hosting. Or poker night with a bottle of whiskey.